By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – Myanmar military junta on Sunday held a tightly controlled national election in 5 years after overthrowing Myanmar’s democratically elected government, and the ongoing civil war.
The poll marked the first nationwide election organized by the junta since it seized power in February 2021, a takeover that triggered mass protests and plunged the country into a brutal civil war that continues to this day.
The military has claimed the election will pave the way for a return to democracy.
The opposition groups and human rights organizations have dismissed the vote as a move designed to legitimize continued junta rule.
The elections are happening even as Myanmar’s most popular political leader, whose government was overthrown by the military in February 2021, remains imprisoned.
Aung sang Sui Kyi the National League for Democracy leaser has been dissolved, effectively excluded it from the political process.
According to media reports the electoral landscape is heavily tilted in favor of the military junta, with the ballot dominated by parties aligned with or backed by the junta.
The voting began on Sunday in parts of the country and is being conducted in three phases, with additional rounds scheduled for January 11 and January 25.
Authorities have not announced when the final results will be released, media reported.
The large areas of Myanmar will not participate in the election due to ongoing fighting.
The clashes between junta forces and a mix of ethnic armed groups and pro-democracy fighters have made voting impossible in several regions, particularly in border areas and parts of central Myanmar, media reported.
The rebel forces have inflicted notable losses on the Junta military, briefly raised hopes among opponents that the junta’s grip on power could weaken.
Security has been tightened nationwide ahead of the three-phase vote.
Some hundreds of people have been arrested under a newly enacted law that criminalizes criticism of the election or efforts to disrupt the process.
The military has continued its operations against opponents even as polling takes place, media and advocacy and tights group stated.
The military has rejected accusations of abuse, stated it is targeting “terrorists” and maintained that the election aims to build what it calls a “genuine, disciplined multiparty democratic system.” It has dismissed international criticism of the polls.
The US and many Western nations do not recognize the junta as Myanmar’s legitimate government.
Several Asian nations, including Japan and Malaysia, have also criticized the election.
